“We cannot withdraw from a protest we did not organise” -NLC boss calls for dialogue

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied reports linking it to the organization of a nationwide protest against hunger set to kick off on August 1.

Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, made this declaration in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 24. On behalf of the congress, he denied claims that the NLC wanted to withdraw from the protest.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise,” he said. Joe Ajaero further pointed out that the decision to participate in such activities depends on the organizers of the speculated national protest.

“We have internal trade union mechanisms, especially leadership decision-making processes that our industrial actions such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken.”

NLC implores FG to dialogue with protest leaders

Ajaero further advised the government to engage with the leaders behind the protest, cautioning against the use of force in addressing the widespread grievances across the nation. “It would be counter-productive for the federal government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force,” his statement reads.

Despite clarifying the NLC’s non-involvement in the protest’s organization, Ajaero emphasized that the union still understands and shares the feelings of Nigerians who are experiencing difficult economic conditions.

“The fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organising the protest does not mean that Organised Labour is oblivious to the dire living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of government,” =

Calling for dialogue, Ajaero urged, “We have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to dialogue on their demands.” He concluded with a plea to governments at all levels to heed the cries of the Nigerian people, stating, “After all, it is said that the voice of the people is the voice of God.”